Discussing the Liberal’s 27-point plan to protect and promote the French language on CJAD radio, QCGN President Marlene Jennings said there are good and bad ideas. Jennings said the QCGN agrees with a Liberal suggestion to have an independent language commissioner with a clear mandate and powers. However the advocacy group is less impressed with … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network is alarmed that Premier François Legault foreshadowed that the Quebec government may invoke the notwithstanding clause to limit the linguistic rights of English-speaking Quebecers. “The QCGN was already concerned about what the government will propose to enforce and reinforce the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) and his comment … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network welcomes today’s Superior Court ruling which declares that Quebec’s secularism law – An Act Respecting the laicity of the State – violates Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms regarding minority education rights. In a landmark ruling for Quebec’s English-speaking community, Justice Marc-André Blanchard declares the legislation … Read more
Following a meeting with Language Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, QCGN President Marlene Jennings discusses the impact that reinforcing the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) could have on the community in an interview with CTV Montreal’s Maya Johnson. Watch here
QCGN President Marlene Jennings went on CJAD 800 to discuss the recent meeting with Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette. During this meeting, QCGN representatives presented the concerns of English-speaking Quebec ahead of coming proposals to reinforce Bill 101. Without providing details of his plan, Minister Jolin-Barrette said he aims to protect and promote French while respecting the … Read more
Canada’s Constitution includes an ‘entrenched’ bill of rights; the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Our Charter comprises 34 sections of the Constitution Act, 1982. Thus, it enshrines our fundamental freedoms and rights. These include our democratic, mobility, legal, equality, and official language rights. With Confederation, the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty (or supremacy) in the Westminster … Read more
Marlene Jennings says she was wrong to back Premier François Legault when he suggested the English Montreal School Board was not qualified to decide about school openings and closings. “When you are wrong, you are wrong!,” Jennings, head of the Quebec Community Groups Network, said in a tweet Thursday. “And boy was I wrong to support Legault … Read more
English-speaking Quebecers, and indeed all Canadians, should be wary of the consequences of the measures that are being considered. In September’s speech from the throne, the federal government declared that “the defence of the rights of francophones outside Quebec, and the defence of the rights of the English minority within Quebec, is a priority for … Read more
Eight of every 10 Quebecers surveyed consider that the French language needs to be protected in Quebec. Among non-francophones, 42 per cent agree. Read more (In French)
(AUDIO) A significant increase starting next year in funding for French-language protection agencies forms an element of Quebec’s latest budget, note Marlene Jennings, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), and Liberal MNA Greg Kelley, Official Opposition critic for relations with English-speaking Quebecers. Both are guests on CJAD’s Montreal Now show to discuss changes … Read more
(VIDEO) Kevin Shaar, constitutional lawyer at the Quebec Community Groups Network, talks about languages acts and different jurisdictions with CTV news anchor Mutsumi Takahashi. Go to interview
An unexpected area of funding was the $4 million for English-speaking Quebecers, money the Quebec Community Group Network (QCGN) expects to help get English speakers better access to government services. “To gather actual statistical data that can be used to determine where the gaps are, where we need help,” said QCGN president Marlene Jennings. Read … Read more